50+ Inspiring Maya Angelou Quotes

When you learn, teach. When you get, give.

Maya Angelou was an American author, poet and civil rights activist. Her quotes are powerful, inspiring and motivational, and help you to be a better person in mind, body and soul. Here we have collected over 50+ Inspiring Maya Angelou Quotes. We also have a great collection of Grant Cardone Quotes.

Maya Angelou was one of America’s most beloved and celebrated poets and authors, with dozens of awards and over 50 honorary degrees attesting to her inspirational role at the center of American life. In 1993, she was invited to recite her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at Bill Clinton’s inauguration, making her the first poet since 1961 to deliver an inaugural recitation. Her lifetime of achievement was rewarded in 2000 when she received the National Medal of Arts, and in 2010 President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the country’s highest honors.

Maya Angelou Quotes To Inspire Your Life

“If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.” Maya Angelou

“I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.” Maya Angelou

“You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated.” Maya Angelou

“When you know better, you do better.” Maya Angelou

“Among other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” Maya Angelou

“Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” Maya Angelou

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style.” Maya Angelou

“I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as making a ‘life’.” Maya Angelou

“Nothing can dim the light which shines within.” Maya Angelou

“All great achievements require time.” Maya Angelou

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.” Maya Angelou

“The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.” Maya Angelou

“Nothing will work unless you do.” Maya Angelou

“I got my own back” Maya Angelou

“We are only as blind as we want to be.” Maya Angelou

“Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.” Maya Angelou

“If you get, give. If you learn, teach.” Maya Angelou

This is a wonderful day, and I have never seen this one ever before.” Maya Angelou

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.” Maya Angelou

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Maya Angelou

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love.

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.

We need much less than we think we need.

If I am not good to myself, how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?

Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.

I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.

Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.

If you’re always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.

Seek patience and passion in equal amounts. Patience alone will not build the temple. Passion alone will destroy its walls.

Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.

A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.

You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away.

If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.

Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

There’s a world of difference between truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.

We are only as blind as we want to be.

I got my own back.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

I respect myself and insist upon it from everybody. And because I do it, I then respect everybody, too.

Determine to live life with flair and laughter.

I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I work very hard, and I play very hard. I’m grateful for life. And I live it – I believe life loves the liver of it. I live it.

Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.

Courage – you develop courage by doing small things like just as if you wouldn’t want to pick up a 100-pound weight without preparing yourself.

You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

The children to whom we read simple stories may or may not show gratitude, but each boon we give strengthens the pillars of the world.

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.

When you know you are of worth, you don’t have to raise your voice, you don’t have to become rude, you don’t have to become vulgar; you just are. And you are like the sky is, as the air is, the same way water is wet. It doesn’t have to protest.

My work is to be honest. My work is to try to think clearly, then have the courage to make sure that what I say is the truth.

You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.

My great blessing is my son, but I have daughters. I have white ones and Black ones and fat ones and thin ones and pretty ones and plain. I have gay ones and straight. I have daughters. I have Asian ones, I have Jewish ones, I have Muslim ones.